We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Reunion
I ran away.
After all, I wanted to spend the New Year holidays relaxing with everyone at the mansion in the forbidden territory.
If I get caught up in demon problems from now on, I might end up crossing the new year in the middle of a commotion.
That’s why I bolted from the Demon Lord like a fleeing rabbit.
I ran at full speed and dived into the teleportation room. Then, I quickly contacted Sleigsta (Old Man), and had him teleport me to the Moss Garden!
“You’re late.”
“Kyaa! You beat me here!”
However, waiting in the Moss Garden was not Sleigsta’s prank, nor a warm welcome from my wives, but the cold gaze of the Giant Demon Lord!
“Sob sob. Where did my peace go?”
I drooped my head in disappointment. Seeing this, the Demon Lord laughed as if amused.
“Kukuku, you’re one of the few who not only refuses to bow to me but also escapes by following your own will.”
Of course, if you act disrespectfully towards the Demon Lord, the symbol of fear and despair, it will lead to your death.
But, I know.
The Giant Demon Lord is actually kind. So, as long as he’s enjoying toying with me, a little bit of playfulness is allowed.
“To use an old woman to foster your playfulness, you seem to have grown. That is what is expected of a messenger of the Dragon God.”
“Grandpa praised me!”
“Hohou, I’ve been underestimated as well. Then, I shall show this overgrown boy and his disciple my true terror. To start, I shall cast a thousand-year curse upon this forest and bring forth eternal thunder and rain.”
“Elnea, offer your soul and stop this old woman’s rampage!”
“I was betrayed by Grandpa in an instant!”
Sleigsta (Old Man) and I clamored noisily.
“Alright, Elnea and old man, stop thrashing around. Giant Demon Lord, please be reasonable too.”
Then, Mistral, who arrived before me and was already taking care of Sleigsta (Old Man), intervened.
“Elnea, Sefina, and Madrine have important business to attend to, so they cannot get involved in demon problems.”
First, we plan to visit my parents in the Armēdo Kingdom, and then immediately go to see the King and Sefina’s mother.
Next, we will head to the Yorttenitos Kingdom and greet Madrine’s parents.
This time, we will be traveling with the minimum number of personnel required.
If we move with a large group and attract attention, our life of seclusion until yesterday will be in vain.
Thus, unfortunately, Lyra’s request will have to wait until another time. I’m sorry?
“Greetings before marriage, I presume. You will, of course, invite me to the wedding ceremony, won’t you?”
“Of course!”
To everyone who will be making preparations, I know it will be difficult, but please! I sent my apologies in my heart.
“Then, for the Dragon Princess’s sake, I shall grant you a reprieve.”
“You’re not giving up, are you…”
“Didn’t I say it? I cannot let the civil war of the Mad Abyss Demon Lord continue unchecked.”
“In that case, wouldn’t it be better for the demons to act instead of us?”
“No. I cannot mobilize my subordinates. Although it’s a civil war, it’s another country’s problem, so it would be interference in internal affairs.”
“So, you’re saying that I, a Great Duke, should act?”
“No, this time you will act while concealing your identity and status.”
“Eh!?”
“Isn’t it just when you’re undergoing training to not use dragon energy? I need you to act, a human with sufficient ability while hiding your true identity.”
“To deal with the commotion caused by the Demon Lord, with my powers restricted… that’s extremely high difficulty!”
Humans, in their natural state, have physical abilities that struggle even against low-ranking demons.
Even I could only contend with high-ranking demons, Demon Lords, and the Primogenitor Race thanks to the significant benefits I received from the Dragon Jewel of the King of Dragons that I held within me.
Of course, besides dragon energy, I also received help from Ares-chan, and I possess the Dragon Sword Dance technique myself, but that alone still feels insufficient.
“I also think it’s dangerous for you to be involved in demon problems while continuing your current training. Moreover, by specifically emphasizing ‘human,’ does that mean I, a Dragon Race member, cannot even accompany you?”
“Ah, Mistral is right!”
Why do I have to be human?
I understand why the Giant Demon Lord’s subordinates cannot interfere. The more capable a demon is, the more their name and appearance are known to their opponents.
In that regard, if I’m in a state where I’m forbidden from using dragon energy, even if my appearance raises suspicion, the chances of my identity being revealed through differences in fighting style are low.
But why are they fixated on me being human in the first place?
Is it to quell the civil war without being discovered by the Mad Abyss Demon Lord?
Or is there a deeper reason?
“You should find the answer yourself as you find your way.”
“That’s a difficult question!”
“Regardless, this is a matter that cannot be overlooked. I shall give you a grace period. Prepare yourself and make your arrangements by then.”
“You absolutely won’t take no for an answer, will you?”
“Of all the humans I know, you are the most trustworthy.”
When the Giant Demon Lord says that, if I run away any further, I’ll be no better than a coward!
Besides, the Demon Lord and Charlotte aren’t secretly tricking me into getting involved in a commotion, or toying with me.
On the contrary, this is the first time they’ve formally asked me for a favor.
I want to respond sincerely to the Demon Lord’s trust. I owe him that much, and he always looks out for me.
“In that case, I accept. However, we have truly important errands to attend to from now on, so could we do it after that?”
“I will give you until around the end of this year. I can stall the current situation until then.”
This means I’ll be dealing with the Mad Abyss Demon Lord’s problem starting early next year?
“That’s right. I will have you go to the Mad Abyss Demon Lord’s country around the beginning of spring next year.”
“Understood. I will make all the preparations I can by then?”
“If you’re talking about preparations, urge the shooting stars as well. I will have a few of them accompany you.”
Isn’t that dangerous?
And if you include my wives, won’t it become a rather large group?
“This time, your wives will stay behind.”
At the Demon Lord’s words, my wives simultaneously complained.
However, the Demon Lord shook his head.
“I want to proceed with this plan as secretly as possible to thwart the Mad Abyss Demon Lord’s schemes. Do not commit any foolish acts that could lead to the enemy discovering Elnea’s identity from your companions.”
In other words, having a few Shooting Star Miko accompany me is also to hide my true identity?
Not just me, but my wives’ appearances and fighting styles are also likely to be known to high-ranking demons.
If a boy with chestnut hair were to act with several women whose appearances were similar to rumors, his identity might be revealed, right?
Conversely, if I, as the chestnut-haired boy, become suspicious, and the appearances and characteristics of my companions are different, then it can pass as a case of mistaken identity.
“I’m sorry to trouble the shooting stars…”
“You can protect them, can’t you? Besides, the shooting stars are not weak, are they?”
The Shooting Star Mikos, for some reason, are accustomed to fighting opponents of higher standing. Even when facing high-ranking demons, they know how to protect themselves, even if they can’t win.
“I will discuss the matter of the shooting stars after we return to the forbidden territory. However, I will assemble a party that best meets the Demon Lord’s requests?”
“Very well. In that case, as a token of my gratitude, I shall send you to the eastern country. When you have finished your business there, come back here.”
“Ugh. You old woman, you plan to stay here until then?”
“Kukuku. I shall pass the time by dealing with the naughty boy for a change.”
“Hey, Elnea! Come back soon!”
“Grandpa, please take care of things here! I’m off!”
I grabbed Sefina and Madrine’s hands and hastily left the Moss Garden!
We passed through the Ancient Tree Forest and proceeded deep into the dense, overgrown forest.
The scenery around us changed with every few steps.
The Dragon Forest, before winter, had lost its beautiful green radiance, and all that remained was a bleak landscape of brown ground covered in fallen leaves and trees stripped bare.
“I’m definitely going to get yelled at by Mistral and Ruiseine when we get back, right?”
I worried about my wives, whom I had left to deal with the Demon Lord.
Then, Sefina said with a laugh.
“I wonder if Lyra will end up crying?”
Madrine grumbled that it would be troublesome if Yufilia and Nina confronted her.
“But, it can’t be helped, can it?”
“That’s right. This is an important errand.”
“If I can’t properly greet Elnea-kun’s parents, I’ll be disqualified as Head Miko.”
From the feel of their hands in mine, I could sense a slight tension.
It’s understandable, isn’t it?
I was also very nervous when I went to greet my wives’ parents before our wedding.
“First, let’s go to my family home and greet Father and Mother, okay? Don’t worry, I’ll be your support!”
“I’m counting on you. Then, after that, we’ll go to the royal castle and greet my mother? But can we reach my mother without being seen?”
“Before that, even reaching Elnea-kun’s house without anyone seeing us is a difficult task!”
“My family home is a tourist spot…”
Still, if we wait until midnight, the tourists will be gone, and the crowds in the capital will be sparse, right?
This means we’ll have to infiltrate the capital at midnight?
As we were discussing this and proceeding through the Dragon Forest, it happened.
Suddenly, I sensed a presence.
A human presence deep within the Dragon Forest?
Two of them.
Are they from the Mimicho Race?
I carefully read the presence.
And then I learned the true nature of the presence.
I took Sefina and Madrine and ran through the Dragon Forest.
“Listea! Slaton!”
“Whoa, Elnea!?”
“Gnnngh, you… you!!”
The two of them let out startled cries as the three of us suddenly emerged from the depths of the forest.
We have to act without being noticed, but these two are an exception, right!
After all, we’ve exchanged letters before.
“It’s been a while, you two! But why are you two here in the deep part of the Dragon Forest? It’s unusual, isn’t it?”
“Elnea, you really…”
“There’s no other way! Where did you guys disappear to after causing that incredible commotion! And what was that letter? Elnea! How dare you show your imbecilic face to me shamelessly! This is my chance, I’ll defeat you and become the Dragon King!!”
“Slaton, calm down.”
“I’m not a horse!”
Unlike Listea, who gave a wry smile at our sudden appearance, Slaton cried out and rushed towards me upon recognizing me.
However, before he could grab my collar, Slaton was sent flying.
“Slaton, what are you doing to Elnea-kun? If you’re going to lay a hand on Elnea-kun, I’ll deal with you first!”
“Ugh…”
That’s right. It was Sefina who effortlessly threw Slaton, who had charged at her with such momentum.
Even Slaton seemed hesitant to go against Sefina, who was a princess and older than him. He landed on the ground with a roll and no longer tried to attack me.
“Lord Slaton, I will not condone selfish violence. You would not perform such foolish acts of violence in front of the Head Miko, would you?”
“Uuuu…”
As a devout follower of the Temple Religion, Slaton was rendered speechless when Madrine said that.
“I’m also grateful that Slaton has calmed down. Well, I am curious as to why Elnea and the others have appeared in the Dragon Forest. More importantly, I think we should explain the situation first.”
Listea, ever the calm one, smoothly steered the conversation.
Listea looked around the Dragon Forest with a serious expression.
“We received a request for cooperation from the Mimicho Race. Apparently, a formidable Yōma has been patrolling the Dragon Forest these past few days.”
“A Yōma?”
Sleigsta (Old Man) didn’t mention anything about Yōma, did he?
Perhaps there wasn’t time to discuss it!
However, if there’s a problem happening in the Dragon Forest, I can’t overlook it. Of course, Sefina and Madrine feel the same way.
“Could you tell us the details?”
“Have there been any casualties?”
Before me, Sefina and Madrine asked Listea for details.
